The British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists

News

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Help us plan the new BAPO learner webpage

🤔 Are you on a learning pathway to become a prosthetist orthotist? 

🤔 Do you support those learners as an educator or employer (of apprentices)?

As part of the NHSE programme of work, we’d love your thoughts about how to shape a new learner-focused page on BAPO’s website. 

The plan is that it will be a ‘go to’ page to help pre-registration learners easily access BAPO resources of particular relevance to them. It will be open access for everyone, not just BAPO student members.

💡 The focus will be on providing access to BAPO information and resources that add value to, rather than replicate, resources learners already access from their education provider, employer, or practice-based learning environments. Things that it’s appropriate for the professional body to provide to support their journey to joining the professional workforce.

🌟 The important question is what would you like to see included on the page? 🌟

Initial suggestions include providing easy access to:

🤔 What else would you suggest we include?

🤔 How can we make this new webpage as useful to pre-registration learners as possible? 

Please let us know what you think! 🙏

Email your suggestions to Jo Watson (jo@drjowatsonconsulting.com), who is leading the work to develop the new webpage on behalf of The Creative Health Alliance. 

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Skills For Health

The Primary Care & Community Services Career Framework developed as part of an Expert reference group has now gone live. Please share with your networks.

Skills for Health and NHS England have launched a survey on a new career framework that covers the range of non-medical roles in primary care and community services.

In light of the shift toward universal personalised care in England, the Primary Care & Community Services Multi-Professional Career Framework has been designed to help facilitate the development and expansion of the non-medical workforce which plays a crucial role in the delivery of joined-up, preventative care.

The development of the framework follows the Community Services Transformation Programme which found that out of hospital careers tended to be less attractive to newly qualified professionals due to a perceived lack of training, development and progression opportunities. By outlining clear career stages and progression routes, it is anticipated that new and improved career development opportunities will support the recruitment and retention of the non-medical primary care and community services workforce.

An expert reference group convened by Skills for Health and NHS England oversaw the development of the first iteration of the Primary Care & Community Services Multi-Professional Career Framework, and the views of stakeholders (including PCNs) are now being sought to help refine and improve the framework prior to its publication.

The survey is open until midday 25 October.

If there are any queries please let me know.

Complete the survey here

Julie

Julie Read (she/her)

Physiotherapist, MCSP

Strategic Lead Clinical Expansion & CPMS Programmes

Education and Delivery,

Workforce, Training & Education Directorate

NHS England

Mobile: 07584 277266

Email: julie.read@nhs.net

Team Email: england.clinicalexpansion@nhs.net

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AHP Day, October 14th 2024

National AHPs Day

As developed by the #AHPCommunity itself, allied health professions (AHPs) day across England on October 14, 2024, is when AHPs/AHP teams connect and celebrate AHPs. We encourage you to celebrate on the day itself and/or throughout the week.

The Chief Allied Health Professions Officer, Professor Suzanne Rastrick’s AHPs live address will take place on Monday 14 October 2024 at 9:30am.

Understanding National AHPs Day

As the third-largest clinical workforce within health and care, Allied Health Professions (AHPs) play a pivotal role in supporting the NHS Long-Term Plan. AHPs Day is an annual occasion for AHPs in England and now internationally to unite and revel in their contribution. This day offers a platform to spotlight the remarkable impact AHPs have on the delivery of care. The collaborations across services, organisations, regions, and nations allow us to achieve:

  • Reinforced awareness about the vital roles of each of the individual Allied Health Professions
  • Highlighting local service achievements and their profound influence on patient care and public health
  • Collaborative efforts with other services and organisations for integrated working
  • A showcase for those considering a career as an allied health professional

To read more about National AHPs Day, please visit our team’s dedicated web pages.

This Year’s Theme for AHPs Day

Quality and safety is the key theme for AHPs Day 2024. This aligns with the AHP strategy for England (2022-2027): AHPs Deliver, which emphasises the importance of providing exceptional care to the people and communities we work alongside.

By delivering care that is not only safe and of high quality, but also grounded in research evidence and innovation, we can make a real difference. This approach helps us address health and care inequalities and is in perfect harmony with the aspirations of the ‘people first’ and ‘optimising care’ areas of focus within our AHP strategy.

Let’s embrace AHPs Day 2024 as a celebration of these commitments.

Who’s it for?

AHPs day extends its warm embrace to all facets of the AHP community. Whether you’re a support worker, assistant practitioner, registered professional, pre-registration apprentice, or
a dedicated student, you’re at the heart of this celebration. Yet, it doesn’t end there. Anyone with a desire to honour the remarkable contributions of AHPs and those eager to delve into the world of these exceptional professions is wholeheartedly welcomed.

The Chief Allied Health Professions Officer (England), Live Address | 9:30am – 10:00am, October 14th, 2024

The CAHPO (Chief Allied Health Professions Officer) for England, Professor Suzanne Rastrick OBE, will deliver a live address to the AHP workforce at 9:30am on AHPs’ Day. This address will express gratitude, acknowledgment, and inspiration to our dedicated colleagues. You can access the live stream through this link: AHPs Day Live Address.

The recording will be archived in the National AHPs’ Day Network on the FutureNHS platform’s resource library. To download a copy, please visit the resource library. If you need access, request permission from the workspace manager through this link or email seniorahp-manager@future.nhs.uk.

CAHPO Awards Ceremony | 5:00pm – 8:00pm (Evening)

We are excited to announce the virtual #CAHPOAwards ceremony on Thursday, October 10th. This significant annual event will be live streamed at CAHPO Awards Livestream. No registration is required; the link will be open to all.

The ceremony will run from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm and will feature an introductory speech by Suzanne Rastrick, who will announce the winners and highly commended entries in each category. Additionally, Suzanne Rastrick will reveal the overall winner, the AHP of the Year for 2024. We look forward to celebrating our exceptional award recipients.

Please feel free to use the below tools to support AHP Day

AHPs Day Email Signature & X formerly Twitter Banner 2024Download
AHPs Day LinkedIn Banner 2024Download
AHPs Day Ms Teams BackgroundDownload
AHPs Day Pledge 2024Download
AHPs Day Certificate 2024Download

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BAPO Short Course – MSK Foot & Ankle: Holistic Management & Treatment Strategies – Newcastle Upon Tyne 9-10 December 2024

Course description: 

This 2 day face-to-face short course offers participants an opportunity to learn about the orthotic management of musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders of the foot and ankle in a group setting (maximum 20 participants). The experienced faculty of Orthotists will share their knowledge and skills in both theory and practical sessions.  
 
Prior to the commencement of the course, registrants will be asked to read four designated full text journal articles.  
During the course, participants will attend taught theoretical sessions mixed with active learning which will involve dividing into smaller groups to interpret x-rays and assess each other’s feet and ankles with feedback and guidance from the faculty team.  
 
The course offers participants an intimate, focused, and friendly learning environment away from the bustle of everyday clinical work to refresh their knowledge with best available evidence and equip them with the skills to enable them to build their confidence and MSK practice.  

 Aims: 
This event aims to equip Orthotists and other AHP’s regularly involved in treating adult MSK foot and ankle conditions with the assessment, diagnostic and image interpretation skills to enable them to differentially diagnose and holistically manage Musculoskeletal foot and ankle conditions. 

 Faculty: 
Simon Dickinson, Clinical Director & Consultant Orthotist, TalarMade Ltd 
Chris Cox, Teaching Fellow, National Centre for Prosthetics & Orthotics, University of Strathclyde 

Learning Outcomes: 
By the end of this event the participant will be able to: 

  • Describe normal Foot and Ankle function 
  • Describe a range of MSK Foot and Ankle pathologies 
  • Define the tests required for differential diagnosis of a range of Musculoskeletal Foot and Ankle pathologies 
  • Demonstrate competence in interpreting the outcomes of a range of diagnostic tests 
  • Utilise imaging as part of the MSK patient assessment 
  • Demonstrate the ability to differentially diagnose a range of Musculoskeletal Foot and Ankle conditions 
  • Perform a thorough biomechanical examination to determine the biomechanical deficit 
  • Establish an evidence-based holistic treatment plan to address the presenting issue 
  • Generate a detailed evidence-based orthotic prescription, management plan including anticipated outcome 

Intended Participants: 

  • Orthotists who have not previously attended the “Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment of Musculoskeletal Foot and Ankle Problems for Orthotists” course 
  • AHP’s regularly involved in treating adult MSK foot and ankle conditions  

and  

  • Orthotists who attended the “Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment of Musculoskeletal Foot and Ankle Problems for Orthotists” between 2015 – 2016 

 Please note this course is not available to Students. 

Venue: The neon Building, Quorum Business Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE12 8BU.

Date & Time: 
Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 December 2024
Registration 8:30-9:00am on day 1.
Start 9:00am, finish 5:00pm on both days.
2 day course ticket includes lunch and refreshments

We encourage Orthotist attendees to apply for reimbursement from the Orthotic Education and Training Trust.  

Applications can be made on the OETT website at www.oett.org.uk 
Requests for reimbursement must include evidence of reflective learning/CPD. 

To purchase tickets: please log on to your BAPOnline account and click the MSK poster it will direct you to the ticketing area.

Not a member? Follow the link below and select “Non-Member Events Registration”, once registered it will allow you to purchase the ticket. If you have any issues, please contact enquires@bapo.com 

Purchase Ticket Here!

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Membership Badges

Diversity empowers us to enable a profession where everyone can thrive, this is beneficial for staff and service users in terms of creativity, innovation, and differing perspectives to improve working environments and provide better outcomes for everyone. 

BAPO has created some digital member badges to showcase and celebrate the diversity of our profession.  These are available in the member badges section once you have logged in, you can find the tab at the top of the page. If you are interested in becoming a member please contact enquiries@bapo.com

The members badges represent all our members including support workers, technicians, prosthetists, orthotists,  students and apprentices.

This badge represents our members from the LGBTQ+ community, it incorporates the most recent progress pride flag, and the added elements emphasise inclusion within the LGBTQ+ community and the ongoing struggle for equality. The flag highlights marginalised groups within the LGBTQ+ community, particularly the transgender community, and those from ethnically minoritised groups, and reiterates the importance of progress in the fight for equal rig hts for all members of the LGBTQ+ community. 

This badge celebrates the neurodiversity of our members and service users, the infinity symbol represents the infinite spectrum of neurological differences and symbolises unity and connection within the neurodiverse community, highlighting the importance of inclusivity and acceptance. It also draws attention to the infinite potential of each person and advocates the need to approach people, attitudes, and tasks with more open-mindedness and creativity. 

This badge represents our ethnically diverse membership base, including our international staff and students. Ethnic diversity includes different ethnic groups encompassing a wide range of cultural, linguistic, racial, and national backgrounds. BAPO recognises the benefits of multiculturalism in our profession and how this contributes to the richness of our society more broadly. 

This badge represents the Disabled members of our profession including Disabled staff and learners. We understand the importance of inclusive environments and encourage our employment and education sectors to embed the social model of disability, where it is everyone’s responsibility to remove barriers and champion equity for Disabled people. This badge includes the colours from the overcoming flag, designed for the UN by Eros Recio, a professional ballet dancer who has Down syndrome. The colours reference those of the paralympic medals symbolising the overcoming of challenges, the three colours also represent physical, mental, and sensory disabilities including neurodiverse conditions. 

This members badge represents all our members including support workers, technicians, prosthetists, orthotists,  students and apprentices